Are potato sprouts poisonous

Answer 1

Potato Sprouts are toxic (poisonous) A sprout of any size can be toxic, but you'd have to eat many sprouts to get sick. Do not buy if they have sprouted or have a green tint to the skin. There is no problem with the potato; just cut off the sprouts, and it's fine for eating. The same is true for potatoes that turn a greenish hue. A potato in this condition is "light-struck" which causes a build-up of a chemical called Solanine. This is a natural reaction to the potato being exposed to too much light. The green part, if eaten in large quantity, can cause illness. If there is slight greening, cut away the green portions of the potato skin before cooking and eating.

Answer 2

Yes, they are poisonous. Potato leaves, flowers, sprouts and green or "sun-scalded" potatoes contain a glycoalkaloid that is a natural defense mechanism to protect the plant from predators. I believe the name of the glycoalkaloid is solanine, and is also found in the leaves of tomatoes. I do not advise this, but you can leave a potato in the sunlight for some days until it turns green. Then cook and eat it. You probably won't die, but the headache you'll get might make you wish you had. Solanine toxic effects tarket the gastrointestinal, liver, heart. Eating potato leaves can, in fact, kill you.

Answer 3

Potatoes, like eggplants (aubergines) are members of the nightshade family.

Potatoes contain toxic compounds known as glycoalkaloids, of which the most prevalent are solanine and chaconine.

The primary toxin in potatoes is solanine. It occurs in high quantities in the stalks, leaves, eyes or sprouts, and is increased when the potato is exposed to sunlight, an effect which causes the flesh to be green under the skin. Green potatoes should not be eaten. The US FDA's upper limit of solanine in foods of 20mg/100g. However, ingestion of smaller amounts has caused symptoms.

Reactions to this poison are usually gastrointestinal and range from mild nausea to severe and convulsive vomiting and diarrhea. Other symptoms have been reported such as burning of the throat, cardiac dysrhythmia, headache and dizziness. Hallucinations, loss of sensation, paralysis, fever, jaundice, dilated pupils and hypothermia have been reported in more severe cases. In large quantities, solanine poisoning can cause death. One study suggests that doses of 2 to 5 mg per kilogram of body weight can cause toxic symptoms, and doses of 3 to 6 mg per kilogram of body weight can be fatal. Symptoms usually occur 8 to 12 hours after ingestion, but may occur as rapidly as 30 minutes after eating high-solanine foods. A life-threatening dose for a regular-weight adult ranges from about 400 mg solanine.

Solanine is also found in other plants in the family Solanaceae, which includes such plants as the deadly nightshade, henbane, and tobacco. Exposure to light, physical damage, and age increase glycoalkaloid content within the potato. Cooking at high temperatures (over 340 °F) partly destroys these toxins. However, no reported cases of potato poisoning have occurred in the U.S. in the last 50 years, and most cases involved eating green potatoes or drinking potato-leaf tea.

Answer 4

Normal potato skins are edible in fact they are good for you as many of the nutrients are just under the skin, however if the skin has turned green (a natural reaction to sunlight) then the skin should not be eaten as the green area can be toxic.

Answer 5

Yes, they are. Fortunately if you cut off the sprouts you should be fine.

Answer 6

they aren't poisonous, but they taste really bad. and they will make you stomach hurt for a while. but they aren't poisonous

Answer 7

yes u can we do all the time

Answer 8

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